Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos

Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos, CH, PC (14 September 1916 – 22 February 2001) was a moderate Welsh Labour politician. He is also regarded as a non-political figure of stature in Wales having held posts of importance in bodies such as the University of Wales. In 1980, he was instrumental in persuading Gwynfor Evans to abandon his intention to begin a hunger strike for a Welsh language television channel.

Early life

Born in Holyhead and educated at the Holyhead Grammar School and at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, he served in the RAFVR in the Second World War. He became a solicitor and a town clerk of Holyhead. He was a governor of the University of Wales and the National Museum of Wales, and served as an Anglesey County Councillor.

Parliamentary career

Tablet at the Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre with references to Cledwyn Hughes and Tudor Watkins

After unsuccessfully contesting the Anglesey constituency in both 1945 and 1950, he was elected to Parliament in the 1951 general election, defeating Megan Lloyd George. He remained as MP for Anglesey until he stood down at the 1979 general election. His florid complexion was a familiar sight in the news.

After he had served as Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations (1964–66), Harold Wilson made him Secretary of State for Wales in 1966 before moving him to become Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1968–70).

House of Lords

In 1979 he was made a life peer as Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos, of Holyhead in the Isle of Anglesey, and was first Deputy Leader (1981–82) then Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords from 1982. One of his most notable successes was his involvement in the campaign for recognition of the Welsh language. He died in Denbigh, aged 84.

He has a building named after him at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, which is home to the School of Business and Management.

Sources

• Times Guide to the House of Commons, 1979

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Cledwyn Hughes

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Megan Lloyd George	Member of Parliament for Anglesey 1951–1979	Succeeded by Keith Best
Political offices
Preceded by The Duke of Devonshire	Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations 1964–1966	Succeeded by Office abolished
Preceded by James Griffiths	Secretary of State for Wales 1966–1968	Succeeded by George Thomas
Preceded by Fred Peart	Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1968–1970	Succeeded by James Prior
Preceded by Ian Mikardo	Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party 1974–1979	Succeeded by Fred Willey
Party political offices
Preceded by The Lord Peart	Leader of the Labour Party in the House of Lords 1982–1992	Succeeded by The Lord Richard
Academic offices
Preceded by Ben Bowen Thomas	President of the University College of Wales Aberystwyth 1977-1985	Succeeded by Melvyn Rosser
Preceded by Edmund Davies	Pro-Chancellor of the University of Wales 1985–1994	Succeeded by Gareth Wiliams